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Is Manure An Environmental Risk or Benefit?

Management of manure and other byproducts of livestock and poultry production is a complex environmental issue. Given the same facts, rational individuals can often arrive at distinctly different conclusions. Is manure . . .

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45 views2 pages

Is Manure An Environmental Risk or Benefit?

Management of manure and other byproducts of livestock and poultry production is a complex environmental issue. Given the same facts, rational individuals can often arrive at distinctly different conclusions. Is manure . . .

Uploaded by

anon_901158008
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LESSON 1

Principles of Environmental Stewardship

Introduction
Is manure an environmental risk or benefit?
Management of manure and other byproducts of livestock and poultry
production is a complex environmental issue. Given the same facts, rational
individuals can often arrive at distinctly different conclusions. Is manure . . .
A source of pathogens, oxygen-depleting compounds, and nutrients that
degrades the quality of our water for drinking and recreational use?
OR
A source of organic matter that improves the quality and productivity of
our soil resources?
One of our nations largest remaining sources of water pollution?
OR
A source of plant nutrients required for growth that can replace
commercial nutrients both finite in supply and energy intensive in their
production?
A source of gaseous emissions that reduces the quality of life in rural
communities and contributes to possible neighbor health concerns?
OR
A means of recycling and sequestering carbon in the soils, contributing to
a reduction in atmospheric carbon and global warming?

The livestock and


poultry industry is
facing a growing
scrutiny of its
environmental
stewardship.

Both sets of conclusions about manure can be true. Manure can produce
both substantial benefits and severe environmental degradation. The actual
environmental results often depend upon choices that the producer makes.

Why are we here?


The livestock and poultry industry is facing a growing scrutiny of its environmental stewardship. Emotion and lack of understanding by the general public
contributes to this scrutiny. Problems also result from a few producers who have
contributed to highly visible impacts on the environment due to ignorance or
outright disregard for the environment. These situations create a negative and
often biased public view of livestock and poultrys impact on the environment.
However, real environmental concerns also result from livestock and
poultry operations owned or managed by well-intentioned producers. Animal
production has the potential to negatively affect surface water quality (from
pathogens, phosphorus, ammonia, and organic matter); groundwater quality
(from nitrate); soil quality (from soluble salts, copper, arsenic, and zinc); and
air quality (from odors, dust, pests, and aerial pathogens). Manure and other
byproducts of animal production, if not carefully managed, will have a
significant negative impact on the environment.
On May 5, 1998, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman stated that
animal waste is the biggest conservation issue in agriculture today, bar

Manure and
other byproducts
of animal
production
can have a
significant
negative impact
on the
environment.

MODULE A

Introduction

none at the National Summit on Animal Waste and the Environment.


Agricultural production has been identified by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) as the largest single contributor to water quality
impairment for rivers and lakes (Table 1-1).
The purpose of this curriculum is to encourage a proactive stewardship
response based on good science among those producers who recognize the
seriousness of this environmental issue and expand the awareness of
producers not familiar with current environmental concerns.
This educational program will assist you in
Self-assessing your operations current environmental strengths and
weaknesses.
Identifying choices that minimize manures risk as a pollutant and
enhance manures value as a resource.
Reviewing your operations compliance with environmental
standards established by regulatory processes.
Table 1-1. Five leading sources of water quality impairment.
Rank Rivers

Estuaries

Agriculture

Municipal point source

Agriculture

Municipal point sources Urban runoff and storm


sewers

Urban runoff and storm


sewers

Urban runoff and storm Hydrologic/habitat


sewers
modification

Agriculture

Resource extraction

Industrial point sources

Industrial point sources Onsite wastewater disposal Resource extraction

Source: EPA 1998.

Lakes

Municipal point sources

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